Scarlet-X/Dragon/DSMC1 in 2022

[Maik Müller]

Trying to make a decision about my Scarlet-X/Dragon. The market-value has fallen to a degree where I refuse to sell it, the images it can deliver are way too good, even though things didn't work out as I once dreamed about and that wonderful camera doesn't have that much opportunities to shine.

So, I want to keep it, and keep using it, when I can, but there are a few things that get a bit more problematic and won't get easier in the future.

Media and batteries have become a problem more or less. Getting REDMAGs (nowadays available only used), isn't very competitive and trying to do the upgrade to Mini's made sense back in the day, but from today's perspective, not so much anymore. So, I'm playing with the idea to switch to an external recorder as main-solution. Sadly the SmallHD touch solutions don't work on DSMC1, so no full replacement for the touch-screen here... Which might make me choose something with bRAW instead. Yeah, that sounds evil, I know.

My second "mistake", well, no it wasn't a mistake back in the day and I still love the form-factor and all about them, was to go full into the REDVOLT-system. I got all the modules, especially love the last one (REDVOLT XL module) in conjunction with the side-handle and used the Quad-Battery and Dual-Battery module quite a bit. These are totally cool.

But sadly all my batteries have had much better days, do the blinking LED's thingy for quite a while now and well, this won't do it for long anymore... And buying those REDVOLTs, or getting my old ones re-celled/fixed seems not really a thing anymore - or doesn't make much sense economically. So, I regret having ignored RED's officiall V-Mount solutions and will have to look one up, probably used.

Last thing I regret, is not having gotten the canon motion mount back in the day. Yes, it was expensive, it still is, when one pops up on ebay, but that thing was ahead of it's time and I would love to have one.

I also need to swap the clock-battery again, probably the one in my REDMOTE too (I still like this thing a lot.)

All in all, the question I'm asking myself, does all this make much sense, to keep a good old Scarlet alive? What do you think? Things sum up and there is the Kommodo on the other hand.

An CFexpress side-module for DSMC1 would be damn cool, and hey, since we are already in dream-territory, a final farewell-firmware that open's up some limitations, media compatibility and maybe even enables that full 6k-motion mode we once saw on that glitched Scarlet here...

Yeah, dreaming a little, because, as I said, when it's shooting images, it's still shooting really great images. It would break my heart to sell it for cheap.

 

[Maik Müller]

Awww, damn, I forgot we had a 4k+ camera way before 4k was a thing and that it's HDMI and SDI ports weren't ready back then (and well there wasn't anything to use that with anyway ,). So forget the external recorder as a solution I guess...

 

[Zack Birlew]

Yeah, kind of like our RED One MX but it was used too and I have been looking for a backup AC adapter as I've misplaced ours after finishing our first feature film shoot but those have become hard to find all of a sudden like other R1 accessories. It would be nice if there were after market solutions but all we can do is hope the 1.8" RED Mags last and that the sensors stay hardy but you should have a much easier time finding DSMC1 accessories as a lot of people will start upgrading and moving on from DSMC1 cameras more so now than ever before as we go into more 8K+ production. Funny enough, AI tools could extend some cameras even further for resolution and there is a thought of downgrading resolution for advances in dynamic range but after having seen a short posted on here recently that used a Scarlet MX, I think there's some life left in older 4K RED cameras yet even though they may not be "Netflix Approved" anymore to be a Netflix Original. As long as everything is functioning fine, you should trade over for a V mount and lightweight battery and just keep holding on with your RED Mags and buy another set when you can afford to. We have about 6 or 7 RED mags I think so our RED One MX will be able to film for a long time yet if we need it but our next movie is going to need an upgrade to 8K+ so the MX may serve somewhere else, not sure yet.

I think the best thing that can happen for older RED cameras is for someone to make a universal SSD, NVME, or CFExpress media solution by either modifying the camera BIOS or making a trick hardware solution to fool the camera, I mean, even if we can only record 128gb or 240gb at a time despite using a 1TB or something like that that would be something at least. But until somebody figures it out it's just a dream.

 

[Michael Hastings]

Fyi I have a bunch of R1 and dsmc1 accessories left over that I need to list - REDvolts, (REDvolt module too), R1 AC adapter, non touch monitors 5 and 7 REDMOTEs (one never used-just used to engineer physically and underwater box for it, R1 battery plates, handle, RED carry case for DSMC Scarlet-W Epic-W, etc., various cables - monitor and control inputs, ethernet, etc.

Send me a message or email and I'll get a list together.

 

[Eric Santiago]

I to have a ton of RED ONE MX and SCARLET MX parts.
Not going to list but email me at ianim8@shaw.ca for specifics.
Some parts are giveaways and only need shipping paid.
As far as what I've dealt with (SCARLET MX just sold it and now running a DRAGON 6K) I can live without the internal battery.
I have given up on all lightweight options (REDVOLTS) and have a few parts to sell.
I am also surviving without the SIDEHANDLE but kept the REDMOTE for odd setups (crane etc...).
I was recording off the SDI/HDMI in the past using an Atomos Shogun and honestly, the HD quality was good enough for what I needed then (long form).
Now I am sticking to big batteries and focusing more on shooting with larger setups.
We have enough minimal shooters (Sony A7s, GH#, etc...) in my area that can take those jobs.
I want to start doing creative work with no restrictions

 

[Les Hillis]

Mini V-Lock batteries could be an easy way to keep your DSMC1 camera going -

V-mount Battery Plate - https://woodencamera.com/products/wc...nt-dsmc1-dsmc2 - 270(EUR)
Mini V-mount Batteries - 4x250(EUR) - 1000(EUR)

The media situation is more problematic. I think sticking to the 1.8" RedMags and having to find more good ones at a decent price/capacity could be more trouble than it's worth. While going new does mean having to find a Mini-Mag Side SSD Module, you'd then be able to use the Kippertie Longtake Mini-Mags, which are best Mini-Mag solution so far imo -

Used RED Mini-Mag Side SSD Module - 600(EUR)
Mini-Mag Media - https://www.kippertie.com/kt/product/longtake-2tb/ - 1400(EUR)

So, yeah, it could get up around 3600-5000(EUR) if you wanted to use 1 or 2 Longtake Mini-Mags.

For that kind of money you might want to look for another 2nd hand full DSMC1 Kit instead and keep your current one as a back up or mix and match them.

I myself would rather take either of those options before going for another image-capturing system altogether, but a lot of people wouldn't.

I'm still keeping my eye out for a really good deal on a DSMC1 Dragon body myself (after trading one out years back), so I can relate to you wanting to keep using yours.

Going Komodo is the other obvious alternative, but at the end of the day would cost about twice as much as keeping the Dragon going, and really is a different kind of camera in a lot of ways.

 

[Eric Santiago]

Am I reading this right, that most are having issues with using the 1.8" SSD media?
Or is it just the need to replace the mini SSD and I'm assuming it's more robust and future-proof.
I have yet to see a mini SSD SIDE MODULE mount offered on RU to date.
So far I've been lucky with the current slew of 1.8" media I am using.

 

[Les Hillis]

No actual issues with the 1.8" RedMags as far as I know. Just looking at it in terms of write-cycles and availability if you need to replace or just want to get another one for any reason. I'd rather buy a new MiniMag than possibly pay the same amount (per GB) for a 2nd hand 1.8" RedMag. Also one less thing to have to deal with if you end up using a DSMC2 camera as well (that only uses the MiniMags).

I bought a used MiniMag Side SSD Module here on Reduser a few years back, but yeah, there aren't a lot of reasons for someone to be selling one that isn't connected to a camera. Just had look and saw two on e-Bay though.

I need to stop thinking about all this though, the temptation to shoot with the Dragon sensor again is real.

 

[Les Hillis]

But while we're on the subject...

In light of recent developments where 1.8" RedMag modules have been made for the RED One camera's ( https://www.reduser.net/forum/dsmc1-cameras/red-one/3773957-red-one-redmag-project-need-forum-help ), I wonder if it's too soon to be thinking of similar third-party MiniMag (or even 'CFast 2.0') side modules for the now discontinued DSMC1 cameras?

 

[Alex Lubensky]

The 1.8" mags are a risky deal as of now. Money-wise they are ok, they never skipped on me, ever (I have 7), but everything comes to EOL. I think EOL of 1.8" redmags is close, because basically you can only buy them used, and because they all are almost 10 years already. So investment-wise I'd buy the newer mini-mags and mini-mag module.

It's funny to me that RED has made a decision to kill the 1,8" mags production - they literally can put the minimag internals into the 1.8" enclosure and they will still work. There still was demand on 1.8" cards and is now, so why really bother to kill them completely, except to rush everyone to waste money on new media, which is essentially the same?

 

[Eric Santiago]

Thanks, Les, I looked into eBay and found one so far.
I don't feel comfortable buying there been burned too many times.
If it was posted in RU then I would bite.
I am seeing a boatload of 1.8" offered here and there.
Even colleagues are offering theirs but still a bit much for the current price.
I am good with what I have and would move to mini if the price is right.

 

[Les Hillis]

No worries Eric. Makes sense to stick to the 1.8" RedMags if you're already using them.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Mini V-Lock batteries could be an easy way to keep your DSMC1 camera going -

V-mount Battery Plate - https://woodencamera.com/products/wc...nt-dsmc1-dsmc2 - 270(EUR)
Mini V-mount Batteries - 4x250(EUR) - 1000(EUR)

The media situation is more problematic. I think sticking to the 1.8" RedMags and having to find more good ones at a decent price/capacity could be more trouble than it's worth. While going new does mean having to find a Mini-Mag Side SSD Module, you'd then be able to use the Kippertie Longtake Mini-Mags, which are best Mini-Mag solution so far imo -

Used RED Mini-Mag Side SSD Module - 600(EUR)
Mini-Mag Media - https://www.kippertie.com/kt/product/longtake-2tb/ - 1400(EUR)

So, yeah, it could get up around 3600-5000(EUR) if you wanted to use 1 or 2 Longtake Mini-Mags.

For that kind of money you might want to look for another 2nd hand full DSMC1 Kit instead and keep your current one as a back up or mix and match them.

I myself would rather take either of those options before going for another image-capturing system altogether, but a lot of people wouldn't.

I'm still keeping my eye out for a really good deal on a DSMC1 Dragon body myself (after trading one out years back), so I can relate to you wanting to keep using yours.

Going Komodo is the other obvious alternative, but at the end of the day would cost about twice as much as keeping the Dragon going, and really is a different kind of camera in a lot of ways.

PS the Long Takes don't work on DSMC1. I asked John, and he confirmed.

 

[Les Hillis]

PS the Long Takes don't work on DSMC1. I asked John, and he confirmed.

Thanks Nick, I had no idea it'd be an issue.

Can see now it's mentioned in the Longtake Compatibility FAQ that they can't be used with the DSMC1 MiniMag Side SSD modules, due to 'hardware limitations'.

Sorry if I led anyone astray with the assumption they'd work. Will have to keep it in mind in regards to my own possible revisiting of DSMC1.